| Gretchen Burns reporter |

The new art exhibit displayed in Porter Hall, home of PSU’s Art Department, showcases the work of David Ingram, visiting artist, and features a mixture of his work centered on ceramics and woodwork.
“The way that he used both of the mediums is just a beautiful explanation of what can be done,” said Rhona Shand, art department chair and gallery director. “He’s incredibly expressive in how he explores texture, pattern and line in the medium.”
Ingram’s pieces include large ceramic vessels incorporated with line work, patterns and textures. Various woods are molded and placed together in other pieces to create an abundance of patterns working toward expressing a narrative of culture and play. It is hard to miss the amount of intricate details and creativity of style, especially when taking into account the amount of time spent by Ingram in creating each work.

Taher Absar, Undergrad student of PSU attended in the exhibition of David Ingram’s art on Tuesday 8th October. David Ingram was selected from a national competition for this exhibition.

“Ceramic seems to take a longer time, because the material has to go through the different stages of drying and firing,” Ingram said. “There are things to do at each stage, and you have to pay close attention to the moisture or you will lose it. For instance, the one called “scribble” was covered in plastic for over a year while I waited for time and inspiration to finish it. During that time I would periodically unwrap it and spray with water inside and out.”
Ingram received a master’s in fine arts from Southern Illinois University and his K-12 teaching certification from Pittsburg State University. He works as an art educator at Erie High School in Erie, where he still finds time to work on his own creations outside of teaching.
“I have to just keep at it,” Ingram said. “There’s no big secret. I give up other things which I deem of lesser importance. I always try to put my job and my students at the top of my priorities.”
Ingram spoke about his exhibit on Monday, Oct. 6, in Porter where he discussed the importance of the creative process in bringing his physical pieces to life
“I always start with a doodle,” Ingram said. “Some would call it a “thumbnail sketch,” then I usually let the ideas percolate and bounce around in my head for a few weeks or months while tending to another project. Then as the idea matures, I will begin to work. Nothing ever turns out like the original conception appeared in my mind.”
Shand says she is pleased that Ingram sent the plaster forms for his pieces along with the exhibit because she thinks it is a great way for admirers of his work to fully appreciate how he creates his pieces.
“He sent us links to YouTube videos that don’t necessarily show his work and process, but how artists of a similar variety do this,” Shand said. “The sense of how he makes these pieces is a really cool process and I’m very glad that we can show it to viewers.”
Ingram says he is honored to be able to exhibit in the University Gallery.
“I have to give credit to the PSU art faculty for giving me encouragement and for their patience with me through this process,” he said.
Shand has recently taken over the position of gallery director and says she plans to teach students how to run a gallery, including the business ends behind it.
“By students learning how to work with a gallery, they will learn the process behind this. It’s not just hanging artwork, this is a business,” Shand said. “ This is an important component of being a professional artist.”